A.R.K. Coalition, Inc.

Strengthening Our Youth For A Better Tomorrow!

Alfred Parker Crossover Classic

A.R.K. Coalition, Inc. and Florida Memorial University proudly announces the Annual Alfred Parker Crossover Classic (APCC) Basketball Tournament. The Coalition is a community-based organization whose purpose is to help develop at-risk kids into productive and contributing adults through educational and social development. 

Coach Alfred Parker was a pillar of the community and of Florida Memorial University, where, for 20 years, he was a coach and a teacher. He was instrumental in building the basketball and education programs at the University. 

This tournament is designed to support and promote the student athletes while being a major educational and entertainment module for the community, with the intent of promoting scholarships, community service, and athletic prowess. In addition, this Classic will honor one of the most dedicated and genuine educators of our time.

The goal of the Alfred Parker Crossover Classic is to raise $30,000 for the Alfred Parker Athletic Scholarship Fund. The APCC has raised monies for the Scholarship Fund since 2005. The Fund has established an endowment with Ameriprise Financial Group as the custodian. A.R.K. Coalition, Inc is proud to sponsor the APCC throughout the years to come. We are proud to have given out two scholarships in 2008 and two in 2009. We thank all of our sponsors for all their support. 

South Florida Pro-Am Mentorship

A.R.K. Coalition, Inc. the sponsors for the South Florida Pro-Am (SFP) Mentorship program selects twelve high school boy and girl basketball players to participate in this mentorship after completing all phases of the Shoot for the Stars program. This league is a semi-professional athletic league, which features major basketball talents from South Florida surrounding areas.

The event is designed to be a major educational and entertainment piece for the community that will promote scholarship, community service and athletic prowess. It also aims to inspire youth spectators and raise funds to create a Pro-Am sponsored "Youth League". The Pro-Am searches for exceptional talents on the college and high school level that are in at-risk situations to mentor their day to day life for a period of time. Providing major advice and knowledge to mentees and giving them that edge of having an adult that has lived in their shoes enables them to make the connection between themselves and the professionals because of their great basketball talent and great leadership ability.

Shoot for the Stars Program

Shoot for the Stars Program and the A.R.K. Coalition, Inc. collaborate to help strengthen academic and athletic achievement for our youth. Wali Jones, former NBA superstar and Community Affairs Liaison, has brought the National Shoot For the Stars concepts, technology and method to the Miami HEAT with the intention of improving the education of our most important natural resources our youth.

The program consists of human development, positive peer leadership training, which is designed to help teachers with teaching techniques, Neuro-linguistic programming and classroom management. The students participate in seminars that focus on the following issues: self concept, self esteem, refusal skills, communication, problem solving, decision making, conflict resolution, reading and volunteerism. Via an academic action plan, students work with their teachers to set academic and personal goals and together they work throughout the year to achieve these goals.